Motor delivery vehicle



May 30, 1933. G. M BACON 1,911,872

MOTOR DELIVERY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 1, 1929 3 Sheets-Shawll l ill ATTORNEY'g May 30, 1933. G. M. BAcoN MOTOR DELIVERY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 1. 1929.'5 Sheets-Sheet me a 0l MVS May 30, 1933- G. M. BACON MOTOR DELIVERYVEHICLE Filed Aug. l, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 0u U w ATTORN EYJ PatentedMay 3o, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE GEORGE H. BACON, 0F DETROIT,MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

CONTDIE'NTAIrDIV-CO COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OIF` YMICHIGAN Moron DELIVERY VEHICLE This invention relates to motor vehiclesand hasparticular reference to motor de-l livery vehicles ada-pted forhouse to house route deliveries.

It is the object of the present invention to obtain al construction ofmotor vehicle which, while conforming toy standard practice in many ofthe detals'of its construction, is so modified as to avoid inconvenienceliertofore encountered in using motor driven chassis in full linesand-thebody in dottedA lines.

Figure 3 'is aplan view ofthe chassis. F igurevi .is .as ectionalview,ta-ken transversely through the vehicle; and

Figure 5 isa section on the linee-5 of.

Figure 4. l

enerally described, my. comprises a chassis including an-internal-combustion engine with a change speedtransmission, a propeller shaftand driving axle together with the usual controls therefor. The engineis preferably -'of thev vertical multicylinder type and the transmis-vsion is preferably of the shiftable. gear type.

The foregoing parts are all of substantially',- i

'doors.v .Then-main loadeiscarried 'nrthecoil conventional design andaccordingly will not be specifically described herein. I have,

however, departed from the usual arrange,-l

ment of these -elements on the chassis-byplacing the engine in rear ofits Vusual position and separating the same from the radiator mounted atthe 4front end of the chassis frame. An arrangement of 'this characterpermits locating the steering*inechani'sm,v j @the body.' Amilejspacei:in rtv'ofiilislde motor control and brake pedals between theradiatorand engine and also permits extending the vehicle body `tosubstantially. the full 'length of the chassis frame.

In addition to the controls which are lo.-

Ycated `in' front of the engine and which are improvement.;-

'at its forward endon-oppositeeside's oethe,

-by suitable `doors which .and exit ofythe drive aforesaid -openingsgter are side dobrsggarand the .rearfldoors 'operable from the driver?sseat-arranged..

above the engine, I have provided auijriliaryyv .controls whichare'voperable ,from opposite.4

sides of the chassis. consist in gear shifting, clutch and-.brake Thevauxiliary controls r i actuating means located abovethe` platformsrvdepending from opposite sides of the 4chassis .v and a steering leverwhich, while. located centrally within the body rear ofthe Y driversseat, may be reached f-roma'posi-gtion upon veither of the platforms.-flhenv steering lever is rockable lin ra-transverseff plane and is soconnected .With-the'steering mechanism that the vehicle'will bet1r11edin.;v the direction inwhich the lever-isirockedr; Thus Ywhendelivery points :are closer: tof-l1; getherfit `is not necessary.forgthe operator; :.i

to mount to the driversv seat asjhe may-'..shift-"z the car from houseto lhouse `by y operating-sv *1* it from theplatformsf;When,'howevergathej vehicle isbeing used for.' wholesaledeliveries wherein the stops arenot close together, the lsteering -levermaybe-readily dtaclied,and`

.the space occupied thereby n1ay-.be'-` utilized-5; for additionalload,` thelvehicle heiisibeing 4steeredffroin thecontrols-locatedfinfront ofz: the drivers .A seat.` l As has .been 1stated; the@ body is v preferably substantially..fthefentire: lengthofthe chassis frame :and iszp'rovided.1v

radiator with door openings :normally-closed PQE-mbofjeritiance additiontoithejff ranged pertinent. `hetvveen whe side dobesopeiiisdimeiisionsfgf th erecivgegap.

Compartment. are: suchtermined .nuniberr of XeS' i offgliniforiiif size*arranged) in -longit1`1 v alg'rtrnsvielfs an vertical;- series.:Theprwidth'ioffi the least fourV boxesar-ranged? firansiirsely 'Isuilicient clearance upon Yoppositesides of the boxes to accommodate thetransmission control levers. Moreover, the width of the body is such asto overhang the platforms, and the iioor thereof opposite the side dooropenings and above the platforms is cut away affording the operator astanding height clearance within the boundary of the body. Thearrangement is such that the side doors may be closed while the vehicleis being operated thereby affording substantially full weatherprotection to the operator when the side doors are in closed position.

The general arrangement as hereinbefore set forth, is such as to leave afree aisle through the center of the body for convenient access to theload both in front and in rear thereof'` and in reachin the steeringlever from either of the plat orms. It will further be noted that alarge portion of the `load can be reached by the operator while he isstanding upon either platform, thereby facilitating the handling of theload.

In detail, as specifically shown in the drawings, the chassis is made upof a pair of side sills 10 and cross members 11 connected to the sidesills in front, in rear and at intermediate points. Mounted upon thechassis adjacent the forward ends of the sill members is a'verticalinternal combustion engine 12 spaced a considerable distance in rear ofthe conventional radiator 13 which, as shown, is secured to the forwardend of the chassis. Arranged in rear of the motor 12 and operativelyconnected thereto through the clutch within the housin 14 is atransmission 15 preferably of the s idable gear type and operativelyconnected to a propeller shaft 16 which in turn is connected to the rearaxle 17.

Depending from opposite sides of the chassis and extending .outwardlytherefrom intermediate the front and rear wheels are the platforms 18.These platforms are secured in any suitable manner vto the sill members10 andare positioned at substantially curb level so as to permit theoperator to readily mount lthe same. There are also provided steps 19 atthe front of the frame at opposite sides of the radiator for assistancein mounting to the drivers seat.

The body 20 of the vehicle extends substantially the full length of theside sills 10 and is provided with doors 21 in the rear,

side doors 22 above the platforms andfront vdoors 23 on opposite sidesof the radiator.

As previously described, the bodyiis of such a width as to overhand theplatforms 18, and the floor 24 thereof is cut away opposite the doors 22and above the platforms so as to permit the vehicle to be voperated froma position upon the plat-forms while the doors 22 are closed. Thus itwill be apparent that the platforms are arranged within the ve- 4hiclebody so that lsubstantially full weather vvision both from the driversseat and from the platforms 18 from which the vehicle is alsooperated.The portion of the body in 'rear of the side doors is used solely forstorage of the load and is preferably of such dimensions as to beexactly divisible by the corresponding dimensions of the separate boxesor receptacles for receiving the articles to be delivered. In the caseof a milk route, for which the vehicle is especially designed, the bodyis of suicient width to receive at least four boxes arranged intransverse rows. There is also space for a single transverse row ofboxes in advance of the side doors but in rear of the hood 25 for themotor. Additional boxes may, if desired, be placed upon the top of thishood and at one side of the drivers seat.J Thus it will be apparent thatsubstantially all of the boxes are readily accessible from positions onthe platforms 18.

Referring now in general to the controls for the vehicle, it will benoted that there is illustrated in Figure 3 a combined clutch and brakeoperating pedal 26 located in the space between the radiator and thedrivers seat and operatively connect-ed by means of a rod 27 to a rockshaft 28 which in turn is connected to the clutch by means of a rod 29.The rock shaft 28 is also connected to the brakes of the vehicle bymeans of the rods 30. As-is customary when a single pedal is utilizedfor actuating both the clutch'and the brake, sufficient-lost motion isprovided in the latter so that upon an initial movement of the pedal 26vthe clutch will be actuated and on av further movement thereof, thebrakes will be applied. The rock shaft 28 extends transversely'of thevehicle and is connected at the opposite ends thereof with the pedals 31which also operate to apply the brakes and actuate the clutch `insubstantially the same manner as the pedal 26. Extending across theframe in juxtaposition to be operated by the driver while he is in astanding position on the platforms.

The transmission 15, which is preferably of the shiftable gear type, iscontrolled by a. rockable and shiftable gear shifter 35 such as usedwith the conventional H-plan type of control. The opposite ends of theshifter 3 5 are universally coupled with linksv 36 to the rock shaft 28is a second rock shaft which in turn are connected to the levers 37.

Each of these-levers is mounted-in such a levers 37 positioned above thesame.

manner as to permit both of the rocking.

these levers areV the handle portions 42 which, as shown, are connectedthrough s'uitable linkage 43 to the carburetor ofthe vehicle (notshown). With this arrangement, it will be a parent that the levers 37 inadl dition to e ecting the gear shifting of the transmission also areinstrumental in governng the speedof the motor.

lThe' steering of the vehicle may also be I e`ected either from theposition on the drivers seat or from either of the platforms. As shown,a steering wheel 44 is connected to va steering post 45 adjacent thedrivers seat. The steering ost 45 is connected through suitable gearingto a shaft 46 which Ain turn is connected to a rod 47 extending betweenandnconne'cted to the steering arms 48'." The rod'47 is also operativelconnected to a shaft 49 `eisttendingrearwar ly and connected at its-rearend to. the rock shaft 50. Operatively connected tothe rock arm 50 toactuate the same vis a second steering conrtrolelementl.` f Thelatter isrockably supported intermediate the' side door openings so asto bereadily accessible from aposition on'either of the platforms-andisfadapted Ito'swing in'a plane transverseto the chassis.

The arrangement is such' that a rocking of the lever ineithergdirectin-will .effect the tui-nin of the vehicle in the directionin which 1t 4is frocked" The connection between the steering mast 51 andthe steering mechanism is such as to permit readily detaching themast,^thereby rendering it possible to utilize the space between thedoor openings for carrying additional load. This arrangement isespecially desirous when the vehicle is used on long runs where frequentstops are not necessary and it is desired to operate the`vehicle fromthefront driving compartment.

In order to increase the adaptabilit of the vehicle for practically anyt pe o de'- liveries and at the same time a ord additional space forcarrying the load I provide use all of the space in rear of the driverfcrsingzafgstanding.

carrying. load, the mast 51 is merely removed andthe floor portions 52moved outwardly to close the cutawayv portions of the vehicle above theplatforms.

In order to provide. for the escape of the'* 70 air circulating throughthe hood 25 by the fan arranged Within the hood 53, I provide louverplates 54 on opposite sides of the body, the hood 25 being suitablyhinged to permit the same to be folded back for ac cess to the engine. Y

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a motor driven chassis having' a shiftable geartransmission, of a body supported upon the'chassisao motor, gear shi andsteering control means within the forward portiony of the bod platformslocated within the boundary of t e body and depending from the chassisproviding standing height clearance Withinf the body, and auxiliarymotor, gear shift and steering control means operablek from a position`on each platform.

2. The combination with a motor driven chassis including an internalcombustion en-- gine and a shift-able gear transmission, of a bodysupported upon the chassis and having door openings centrally of eachside thereof, motor control, gear shift and steering means operable fromwithin the 7forward port-ion of the body, platforms spaced below theside door openings and arranged within the boundary of the bodyalordinga standing height clearance within'the latter, auxiliary motor controland gear shift devices operable from either ofsaid platforms, and -an jauxiliary steering control located within the V'body ybetween the ydooropenings and `also operable from either of the platforms. 3. Thecombination'with a vehicle having a motordriven chassis, of a platformdepending from one side'of the chassis, a body `carried bythe chassishaving a width sufficient 'to overhang the platform and having `flooringcutaway above ,thel platform forming a standing height Fclearance,vehicle conf trol devices arranged 5 within the body for convenientactuation; from a osition on Ysaid 'platform; said I control devicesinclud.

Ning alsteering mast 'disposed substantiallycentrally of'the' body'opposite the platform *fandmount'ed for rocking movement lateralofthe@vehicle',- said steering'mast being et l aeh able,and aslidinfloorsection for 'elosingfthe Vspacee'fformeby said cutaway `1'portionfof the flooring permitting the porf" ton of--tl1e""latterl abovethe platform to be `-u'sedr for" storing-additional load.

4.x` The combination with a vehicle having 'afnotordriven chassis, ofplatforms dependingffromflopposite side of the chassis, a bodscarriedlibythe chassis having a width su overhang the platforms andhaving ooringacutawa above the platforms formlieight clearance, thevehiclef control devicesyarranged within the body for convenientactuation from a position on either of the platforms, said controldevices including a steering mast disposed substan- 5- tially centrallyof the body oiiposite the platforms and mounted for roc ing movementlaterally of the vehicle, said mast being readily detachable, andsliding oor sections for closing the space formed by said cutawayportions of the o'ori'iig permitting the poitions of the latter abovethe platforms to be used for storin additional load.

5. In a motor ve icle of the house-to-liouse delivery type, achassis,front and rear ground wheels supporting said chassisNa load supportingHoor carried by the chassis, a body carried by the chassis and having awidth sufficient to overhang the chassis, said Hoor having a cut-awayportion substantially within the boundaries of said body andintermediate said front and rear Wheels whereby to provide a relativelylow standing vehicle driving platform with standing height clearance forthe operator, said ioor having a portion slidably associated therewithand adapted to slide to a position above said platform whereby toprovide auxiliary load supporting fioor space.

6. In a motor vehicle of the house-to-house delivery type, .a chassis,front and rear ground wheels supporting said chassis, a load supportingfloor carried by the chassis, a body carried by the chassis and having awidth suflicient to overhang thechassis, said Hoor having acut-away'portion substantially within the boundaries of said body andintermediate said front and rear wheels whereby to provide a relativelylow1 standing vehicle driving platform with standing height clearancefor the operator, said Hoor having a portion slidably associatedtherewith and adapted to slide to a position above said platform wherebyto provide auxiliary load supporting floor space, and means forselectively controlling the operation ofthe vehicle from said platformor from a point forwardly therefrom.

7. In a motorvehicle of the house-to-house delivery -type,- a chassis,front and rear ground wheels supporting said chassis,-.a load supportinHoor carried by the chassis, a body carrie 4by the chassis and having awidth sufiicient to overhang the chassis, said floor having a cut-awaportion slibstantially within the boundaries of said body andintermediate said front and rear wheels whereby to provide a relativelylow standing vehicle driving platform with standing i height clearancefor the operator, said floor 66 when standing on said platform.

8. In a motor vehicle of the house-to-house delivery type, a chassis,front and rear Ground wheels supporting said chassis, a oad -supportingfioor carried by the chassis, a body carried by the chassis and having awidth sufficient to overhang the chassis, said Hoor having a cut-awayportion substantially within the boundaries of said bod` andintermediate said front and rear whee s Whereby to provide a relativelylow standing vehicle driving platform with standing height clearance forthe operator, said Hoor having a portion slidably' associated therewithand adapted to slide to a position above said platform whereby 'toprovide auxiliary load 'supporting floor space, and vehicle controllingmeans within reach of the operator when standing on said platform, and aside door slidable to a position along said platform whereby tosubstantially enclose the operator when standing on said platform.

9. In a motor vehicle,l a wheeled chassis, an internal combustionenffine at the forward end thereof, a lshifta'ble transmission lever,steering means for the vehicle, said lever and steering means beinglocated toward the forward part of the vehicle, a low level operatingplatform depending from said chassis at one side of said vehicle betweenthe front and rear wheels thereof, a body carried by said chassis havinga width substantially greater than the Wheel tread and enclosing said.operating platform, said body providing standing height clearance from`said low level platform, auxiliary steering means within said bodyoperable from said platform, an auxiliary gear shift lever operable fromsaid platform, and motor and brake controlling means operable from saidplatform, t In testimony whereof I affix my signaure.

GEORGE M. BACON.

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